June 10th 2004 sees several elections in Britain - the Euro Elections
across all 12 constituencies in the UK
to elect MP's to the European Parliament; local council elections in England and Wales; and in London there is the London Mayoral elections and the
London Assembly elections.

No Vote = Vote for BNP

With the British National Party (BNP) strongly contending for seats right across the country it makes it imperative for all Muslims to vote in this election - if only to keep the BNP out.

Remember you strengthen the BNP vote if you do not vote, as then the BNP votes become a larger percentage of the total votes cast. This is particularly damaging in the Euro Elections as they are proportionally counted, so for example in London the BNP only need 11% of the votes cast in order to get their man in to the European Parliament. If you don't vote then that 11% becomes easier for the BNP to reach as it translates to less votes.

If you are in any doubt of what the BNP is about, watch their islamophobic party political broadcast video:

They are campaigning on a single issue - hatred of Islam. They believe that the islamophobia prevalent today in British society will secure them seats in Europe.

What is Proportional Representation?

In a non-proportional system like the General Election the party that gets the most votes wins and the rest lose. This system favours the big party's that can secure lots of votes.

In proportional representation there is no single winner but each party wins a share of the seats depending on the the proportion of the votes they secured. .So for example in the European Elections, in London there are 9 seats up for grabs, so the votes caste will be divided in to 9 portions of 11% (9 x 11 = 100%). Any party that can get 11% of the votes cast on that day, will win a seat in the European Parliament. If a party gets 22% of the vote they will win 2 seats, etc. In this system even small party's like the BNP can win a seat especially if the turnout is low as then that target of 11% translates to fewer votes for them to secure.

BNP "Campaign Against Islam" poster, Oct 2001

The fact that such an inflammatory broadcast was allowed to be aired on British TV is itself scandalous. The Islamic Human Right Commission are taking action against this broadcast, please support their media alert on it.

Then there is the UK Independence Party (UKIP), described as the "BNP in blazers" - There manifesto cover shows
three white babies with the slogan: “Concerned about their future? This is their country, make sure it stays that way.”[1] Its no surprise then that their new star attraction is the racist islamophobe
Robert Kilroy-Silk - he is tipped to become their leader, and is currently standing for them in the Euro-elections (East-Midlands seat). Some polls show the UKIP beating the Lib-Dems in to third place, only 3% behind Labour![2]

Vote for who?

Who should Muslims vote for?

Well lets ask another question first - who shouldn't Muslims vote for? Many see this election as a referendum on the war - the Labour government ignored the views of the people - the largest demonstrations in this country's history - all ignored - and instead they obeyed a foreign power - the US and took this country to war on its behalf, now many believe its payback time and are refusing to vote Labour. One Muslimah quoted in a national newspaper put it more eloquently: "You would only vote Labour if you want to put a bullet through an Iraqi kid's head."[3]

"You would only vote Labour
if you want to
put a bullet
through an Iraqi kid's head."

So who should Muslims vote for?

In the European elections many Muslims will no doubt, for good reason, be voting for the newly formed Respect Coalition - a coalition led by George Galloway and made up from the anti-war movement, trade unionists disillusioned with New Labour and a few Muslim groups like MAB. It is the only political party in Britain that categorically in its founding declaration espouses support for the Palestinians: "We Stand For: Support for the people of Palestine and opposition to the apartheid system that oppresses them." Having emerged out of the anti-war movement they are opposed to all imperialist wars, and have supported the campaign against the hijab ban in France.

Of course they are not alone, individuals from the the Greens, the Lib-Dems and even from the Labour party; have also vocally, sometimes at great personal sacrifice, supported these causes which are so dear to Muslim hearts and they mustn't be forgotten.

Also, it must be remembered that none of the political parties are Islamic or claim to be Islamic, so whilst we may find commonality with them on some issues, we will also find many of their policies running counter to our beliefs. The idea isn't for Muslims to give their allegiance to these parties, but rather to use their votes to secure the best deal for Muslims.

So rather than give blanket support to any party, here we look at individual candidates and their track records. We reveal the bad eggs Muslims must avoid voting for, and perhaps also point to a few cherries worth picking from among the candidates.

With elections looming over our shoulders we have had to go live with the page unfinished, inshallah updates will be made as our research reveals more - keep visiting. We urge Muslims in the UK that if you agree with our findings please share them with your community - knowledge is power - so that they can make a more informed decision on election day.

In the European Elections a party is only as good as its primary candidate, this is because all the votes first go in to electing the primary candidate, only once they have secured their seat are other candidates considered. If the primary candidate is rotten there is no point in voting for that party. For this reason our investigation is limited to just the primary candidates. For the European Election the UK is divided in to 12 constituencies, we look at each one separately.

For those who have a tendency to 'cut off their nose to spite their face' may consider voting Conservative, they should know that the primary Conservative euro-candidate for London is a zionist - Theresa Villiers.

Teresa Villiers MEP
unashamed zionist propagandist

At every opportunity she has spouted zionist propaganda in defence of Israel. In an embarrassing letter to the Daily Telegraph newspaper[1] she even denied that Israel is occupying Palestinian land, referring to it as "supposed 'occupation'"! If her history is weak, as a law maker she should at least be familiar with international law and UN resolutions on the illegal occupation by Israel of Palestinian land.

At a barrister's conference on ''The Democratic Cost Of The War Against Terrorism' she childishly even objected to Israeli human right lawyer Leah Tsemel's use of quotes around the word "terrorist" when describing the charge "terrorist activities" that her Palestinian clients are accused of.[2]

Charles Tannock MEP
friend of Israel

Further, it cannot be ignored that fellow conservative MEP for London,
Charles Tannock, is also a rabid zionist. As a member of friends of Israel[3] he has spent his time at European Parliament representing Israel, he has tried to stop EU funding for Palestine[3] and has argued that the Geneva Convention does not apply to Muslims held at Guantanamo Bay.[4]

She has an impressive track record for her anti-war work. She has addressed several anti-war rallies including the recent one on the prisoner torture scandal.[1] Speaking to a crowd outside Belmarsh Prison she has condemned the holding of prisoners without charge at both Belmarsh and Guantanamo.[2] Over the Kilroy issue, she has asked the Press Complaints Commission to investigate the Sunday Express for publishing the notorious article.[3]

Her support for Palestine however is not vocal and we could not find any reference to her support for the campaign against the hijab ban in France. This is particularly surprising as she is on the Civil Liberties Committee ('substitute' member) and a member of the cross-party Anti-Racism Intergroup, also her website lists Human Rights as a "main area of interest". On both these issues, it has to be said, other Green candidates have shown great passion.

Her statement of position on the Kashmir Crisis (June 2002) ignores the plight of Kashmiris under Indian occupation and instead calls on international monitors to verify that "Islamist militants" do not cross over from Pakistan![4]

For those who have still not had enough of Blairs Labour party, their primary candidate in London for the European Parliament is Claude Ajit Moraes.

Blairs man - Claude Moraes MEP

Whilst he has championed the cause of Christians in Pakistan[1] we could not find any evidence of any interest in the plight of Muslims, for example the Palestinians suffering under Israeli racism or Kashmiris persecuted by India. Although he was the vice-president of the European Unions delegation to UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban he seems to have tiptoed around the core issues of condemning Zionism as a form of racism, and Israel for practicing apartheid.[2]

His only contribution that we could find towards Muslims was a letter he wrote to the European Commission and European Council asking clarification on whether the French bill banning religious symbols breaks EU laws on racial equality and religious tolerance.[3]

With his special interest in combating the rising racism in Europe, most of which is directed at Muslims, we expected more from him. His history suggests someone who toes the party line - goes with the flow - unfortunately considering the direction his party is going in, such a person is of little benefit to Muslims.

In London a vote for the Liberal Democrats is quite literally a vote for Israel as their primary candidate,
Baroness Sarah Ludford,
is an ardent zionist who has a track record for doing Israel's biding in the European Parliament.

Israel's voice in the European Parliament (and the House of Lords)
Liberal Democrat MEP for London,
Member of Lib-Dem Friends of Israel
Baroness Sarah Ludford

Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat MEP for London is a proud member of the shadowy group Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel.

Whilst the world watched in disgust the massacre of Jenin in April 2002, Sarah Ludford the Liberal Democrat Euro spokesperson for justice (& home affairs) was busy celebrating with the Israeli EU ambassador the 54th anniversary of Israel (17 April).
Her website reveals that at the festivities she conveyed to the Israeli ambassador, Harry Kney-Tal, her disgust at Palestinian suicide bombings![1] A few days later she visited Jenin as part of the
European Parliament
fact-finding
delegation (24 April). There she tried to cover up the facts - fighting to remove the word "massacre" from the description of the carnage in front of her[2] - she had previously described it as just "disquiet"[1].

She has consistently opposed all attempts by the European Parliament to boycott Israel. In an article for the Jewish News she admits "I ensured that the votes of Liberal Democrat MEP's were decisive in rejecting by 8 votes last autumn a proposal to cut off the EU-Israel Association Agreement."[2] The fact that the other Liberal Democrat MEP's voted with her to support Israel suggests she has effected official party policy and brings in to question the whole position of the Liberal Democrat Party in regards to Palestine - actions speak louder than words - when it counted they voted for Israel.

She rejects the 'right of return' for Palestinian refugees - something the UN
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 13-2), the Fourth Geneva Convention
(Article 49), countless UN resolutions (inc 194) and international law grants them. She admits "I happen to agree..that there can be no Palestinian 'right of return' to Israel."[2]

And its not only on the issue of Palestine where she opposes Muslims. She sidelines the growing Islamophobia in Europe and has attacked the decision of the EU's Monitoring Centre to commission reports on rising Islamophobia, calling it biased, saying that Jews in Europe are under threat and efforts should concentrate on highlighting this and publishing reports on anti-Semetism.[2]. In May 2000 she attacked French Muslims for ritually slaughtering animals without stunning (Eid festival), and demanded the EU commence legal proceedings against France over it![3]

The leading star of the Respect Coalition is George Galloway. He is representing them as the primary candidate for London.

George Galloway addressing another anti-war/pro-justice rally

Muslims will know him as someone who has for many years championed anti-imperialist causes in the Muslim world, from the struggle for self-determination in both Palestine and Kashmir, to the campaign against sanctions and war against the Iraqi people.[1] And for his trouble, George Galloway has paid heavily. He has been thrown out of the Labour party and he has been the target of a vile smear campaign.

With the recent banning of the hijab in France, George Galloway has once again shown willingness to champion a cause dear to Muslims, and on Hijab protest day he addressed crowds outside the French Embassy "to stand by the Muslim people of France against this wicked proposal of Chirac to tear the hijab from the heads of young and old Muslim women in France".[2]

One in three Muslims in the UK lives in London - around 10% of the London electorate is Muslim, so if they vote wisely they can have great influence on the London election. The real rotten egg revealed in this election is the the existing Lib-Dem MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford - you might as well vote for Sharon than vote for her! News has it that she has been touring local mosques presenting herself as the face of the anti-war party - if she comes to your mosque ask her what she was doing during the Jenin massacre. For Muslims there can be very little doubt who to vote for in London, George Galloway has consistently shown himself to be a friend of Muslims, he is someone who deserves the votes of London's Muslims.

He has written articles in the Telegraph chastising those in European Parliament who are critical of Israel.[1] and has called the Spanish troop withdrawal from Iraq a "betrayal".[2]

[1] At the heart of Europe by Daniel Hannan (14 April 2002, Telegraph)

[2]
Back at the heart of Old Europe, Spain revisits its abject past
By Daniel Hannan ( 21 March 2002, Telegraph)

Green Party (South-East)

Summary

Caroline Patricia
Lucas

Green Party
SOUTH-EAST

BAD

GOOD

Details

Caroline Lucas leads the Green Party in the South-East.

Caroline Lucas addressing a Palestine Rally

She has been a stalwart supporter of Palestine for many years, and has been a real asset for the Palestinian cause in the European Parliament. She has visited Palestine and used her visit to highlight their suffering and the building of the illegal wall over which she has demanded Israel be punished by the
Suspension of EU-Israel Association Agreement.[1]

Always at the forefront of the anti-war movement, she is a speaker at practically every rally and has written many articles condemning Bush's/Blair's war.[5]

Dr Lucas has also given her support to the campaign against the hijab ban in France.[2] Addressing a protest outside the French Embassy she said "Women and girls who have chosen to wear Hijab as an essential part of their Islamic beliefs and culture, should not be forced to suffer under a ban calculated to create religious and ethnic discrimination...
the french government must abandon this plan, it must learn respect for Muslims."[3]

We did discover, however, that she has in the past been critical of shariah hudood penalties.[4]

Peter Skinner leads the Labour candidates for the South-East. We could not find any record of him taking any interest in the Muslim community.

Peter Skinner & Mark Watts,
both Labour MEPS for the South -East

Mark Watts, Labour MEP and second on the list for the South-East has in the past described Muslim religious slaughter of sheep during the Eid as "barbaric and despicable cruelty has outraged millions of
civilised people" in a letter to the EU Commission in which he demanded the French authorities be prosecuted for allowing it to happen to "British sheep" in France! He seems to write in every year at Eid time to complain.[1]

[1] Official Journal of the European Communities, letters dating back to June 97, March 98, Oct 2000...

We could not find any record of him taking any interest in the Muslim community apart from a photo of him with Charles Kennedy at the 15th Feb 2003 London march when Kennedy ordered all his deputies to turn up.

Respect Coalition (South-East)

Summary

Ingrid Helena
Dodd

Respect Coalition
SOUTH-EAST

BAD

GOOD

Details

The Respect candidate for the South-East is Ingrid Dodd, a NHS doctor from Dover.

She has played an active part in the anti-war movement. Just a couple of weeks ago, when Bush senior visited the UK to raise money for his son President Bush, she picketed the fund raiser wearing a black hood like the Iraqi victims of US torture: "I'm here to stand up against death and destruction around the world...
I spend all day trying to clean people up and then I see our bombs on television tearing them apart."[1]

This not a traditional Muslim heartland, so it calls for careful tactical voting. Over recent years Muslims have recognised that the stance of the Green Party on several important issues is not in conflict with their own position. This has been made particularly evident by the hard work of Greeen MEP Caroline Lucas. Its a great shame then that in this election the Green party could not work out some sort of partnership with Respect, whereby they would both support a single candidate in marginal seats rather than risk splitting the vote and both loosing out. Caroline Lucas won her seat by just 249 votes at the last election. It would be a great loss if this stubbornness results in that seat being lost.

Before looking at the current conservative candidates for Eastern we must mention the case of
Bashir Khanbhai. He was the Conservative MEP for Eastern and was to stand again in this election until he was dropped, in his own words, by "racist elements within the party.. including three or four of my fellow MEP's and some senior figures at Central Office."[1]

Whilst he was hardy a voice for Muslims, he was never the less the only elected Muslim in the Tory party and he did march against the war in Iraq[1] and also asserted in the European Parliament, after much appeasing waffle, that there could be no peace in the middle-east until Israel pulls back to the 1967 border.[2] For those who still want to vote for his "racist"party, read on.

The new Tory list is headed by Geoffrey Van Orden.

Geoffrey Van Orden, in contrast to fellow Tory MEP Khanbhai, maintains that the fundamental problem is that some Arab countries and Iran aren't playing ball with Israel and that they should be encouraged to fully recognise Israel (ie. accept its illegitimate occupation) and establish
normal relations (ie. betray the Palestinian people). He also blames the Arabs for the Palestinian refugee problem and says "unrealistic expectations are still being kept alive" - no doubt a reference to the 'Right of return'.[3]

He has slammed suggestions of sanctions against Israel in the European Parliament, his excuse being that it would "sharpen the differences with the United States."[4]

With regards to Turkey he is critical of the EUs stance on human rights in Turkey suggesting they turn a blind eye because Islamists are being tortured and to draw attention to it would "serve to empower essentially undemocratic elements, giving greater influence and visibility to fundamental Islamists."[5]

He suggested it was "madness" for Britain and Europe to take Afghan, and other, refugees and asylum-seekers as "many have extremist backgrounds" and would "cultivate Islamic extremist
within our own societies".[6]

She has passionately opposed the war. Soon after 9-11, in October 2001 she lead a peaceful civil disobedience sit-down protest against the bombing of Afghanistan, comparing both she retorted: "we also have to ask whether there is any distinction between those acts of terrorism in one continent and acts of aggression meted out by the US government and its allies in another."[1]

In the early days of the war she also managed to broadcast, to Afghanistan, a message of support for the Afghan people via Iranian state broadcasting (IRIB).

He has lead protests outside Nestle HQ as part of the Baby Milk Campaign (apart from supporting Israel, Nestle is also busy killing babies in developing countries by discouraging breast feeding in order to create a market for its artificial milk substitutes.) [1]

As
Labour's European Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Spokesperson
he must be commended for supporting human rights causes from Burma to Colombia. But surprisingly we could not find any evidence of any interest in the plight of Muslims. When we consider that 80% of refugees in the world are Muslims, we would expect that a spokesperson on Human Rights would occasionally speak up for them.

Whilst he has written one or two articles[1] against going to war in Iraq its interesting that his article a few weeks after 9-11 titled "Goal for Democracy"[2] he talks of what the objectives of the "global alliance against terrorism" should be, at no2 after the arrest of bin Laden is "the complete overthrow of the Taliban regime" - regime change!

And what's more, his justification for regime change reeks of islamophobia: "The Taliban want to return Afghanistan to the age of the Prophet, a time of no fundamental rights or universal, humane values." Muslims no doubt oppose the Taliban, but for the opposite reason to that given by him - we oppose the Taliban because they have perverted the message of Islam - they have abandoned the teachings of the Prophet. The Prophet was the bringer of rights for all - even animals and trees, to suggest otherwise is ignorance at best...

He has written quite an interesting article where he talks passionately against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories[3], but it soon becomes clear that its just a ruse to justify his proposal of setting up of a Euro Rapid Reaction Force of 60,000 troops for "peace-making" duties...

The primary Respect candidate for the Eastern region is Jim Rogers, a former Labour council leader disillusioned by the hypocrisy of New Labour.

Jim Rogers

Hasna Matin

Interestingly, also on the Eastern region team is a Muslimah, Hasna Matin, a community activist and chair of a Muslim women's youth group. Unfortunately she is placed at No 4 so has little chance of winning a seat.

Eastern: Conclusions

With no exceptional circumstances present, like a Green MEP holding on to her seat by a thread, the Respect Unity Coalition makes the best choice.